Recycling

Students collect recyclables from fans as they enter Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Georgia Tech established a program to oversee campus recycling efforts in 1996. Housed within the Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling, the program's mission is to encourage and expand recycling, waste diversion and reuse programs and to promote efforts to decrease the amount of landfill waste produced on the Georgia Tech campus.

In addition to paper, plastic and metal materials, Georgia Tech also recycles toner cartridges, cell phones, furniture, food, pallets, corrugated cardboard, glass, oils, clothing, monitors, televisions and computers. The recycling program recycles more than 600 tons of materials each year, including 376 tons of paper. The American Forest and Paper Association recently presented Georgia Tech with the College and University Recycling Award in recognition of innovative, ongoing efforts to recycle paper.

Student activity is integral to campus recycling’s success. The Student Alumni Association recognized the campus recycling program’s excellence in 2010 by awarding the program more than $20,000 with its Gift to Tech funds. Undergraduate Industrial and Systems Engineering students are creating "Smart Trash" by using technology to develop products that manage their own recycling.

The Game Day Recycling program broke its own record during the 2010 football season, diverting 21 tons of glass, aluminum, cardboard, plastic and other recyclables away from landfills, recycling 19 percent of the waste created during the football team’s six home games.